Looking to use a tow dolly and am trying to find the laws on them. I am from Mi. and found that they don't need to be licensed in my state. Also read all other states honor the law on this from the state it was registered in, but this was only from different forums I checked. When and where are brakes required ? I would be pulling a Olds Silhouette mini-van wired for lights with a 35' Winnebago. I been searching the DMV but haven't found it yet.

I use a tow dolly to pull our Toyota Camry behind our Bounder 33' motorhome. In California the dolly does not have to have its own license plate and as long as the dolly and motorhome lights are clearly visible no additional lights are needed on the towed vehicle. I made a point of buying a dolly with electric brakes and had a controller wired into the motorhome. I cannot conceive of towing any passenger vehicle without brakes on the dolly. Whether electric or surge brakes, I would not consider using a dolly without brakes. Good luck!

A general rule is that anything weighing over 1500 lbs. has to have brakes. That is NOT always the rule in every state, but it is a good one to follow. I also would not tow without brakes on the dolly.
Let me correct GGoodsell's statement. In California, you do have to register and display a license plate on a tow dolly. Doesn't cost much for the reg. though.
That doesn't apply to you in your state.
Generally speaking, if your vehicle being towed on the dolly is protruding more than 4' behind the dolly, then you do have to have lights on the vehicle being towed. Research this through your own states Vehicle Code.

Get brakes, or you will have 4500# pushing that MH when you are trying to stop. OK for normal slowing to a stop but if you had an emergency stop you would REALLY wish you had brakes back there!
Check your MH owner manual, it may tell you to install brakes on anything over 1500/2000#.

Keith J.
Sold the fiver and looking for a DP, but not in any hurry right now.

DouglasBriggs wrote:I am from Mi. and found that they don't need to be licensed in my state.

Doug,
Not necessarily true. NYS is the same as Michigan in that they do not need a license tag. But NYS will give you a license plate for a dolly if you intend on taking it out of state, because some states require dollies from NYS to be tagged when going into or thru their state. You need to find someone from the state DMV who is knowledgeable about the dolly laws. Think a couple of the New England states are the culprits, but not 100% sure. You will need the DMV laws for each state you travel thru in this matter and concerning the brakes. And don't necessarily believe what someone on a forum tells you concerning state dmv laws, including myself! You need to check this stuff first hand. Here is the NYS reference concerning tow dollies: http://www.nydmv.state.ny.us/forms/mv274.pdf

* This post was
edited 05/11/11 09:35pm by wny_pat *

“All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.”

From Mi myself and yes no plate needed. Have never had an issue towing thru any state even if a plate was required in that area. As far as brakes, don't leave home without them. Towing something that heavy you'll wish you had them the first time you have to make an emergency stop. JMHO

Demco 460SS is the best tow dolly on the market. It comes wth surge brakes and many other good fetures. I have had one for almost six years and had my first problems this last fall on the way to florida. I lost both tires due to road conditions in Ark. but I found out that the tires were Carliles and almost nine years old. They use Godyear Marithons on them now.

IN is the same as MI as far as not needing plates on the dolly or lights on the toad. As you can see from the map below we’ve pulled our dolly through 41 states & have never had an issue concerning this. I can't say that some other state's officer couldn't try to enforce their law but I have never had it happen.

Even though IN does not require the toad to be lit (if the dolly is properly lit) I would not feel comfortable driving at night without it being lit so I have a par of mag. lights (with a plate light wired in) that I can hook up if forced to drive after dark.

I agree with the above. Don’t even consider a dolly without electric or surge brakes. You never know when you might have to stop in a hurry.